Tag Archives: life

Top Ten

Top Ten Reasons I Know I’m Not In The Caribbean Anymore…(in random order)

  • 60 Degrees seems really cold.
  • 9 loads of laundry.
  • I’m no longer rocked to sleep by the ocean waves.
  • I have to COOK!
  • Instead of amazing blue waters surrounding me, its brown grass and mud puddles.
  • I’m sitting at a desk, supposedly working. WORK!
  • Manuello isn’t here to clean my room twice a day.
  • The alarm clock woke me up, not the sun.
  • I have a sweater on over my shirt.
  • I don’t have a cute little umbrella in my unsweetened tea.

Oh how I don’t like coming back to reality!! We had an amazing vacation and I’m ready to do it all again, very soon.

Where did last week go?

Last week is a blur of images in my head. I remember lots of fever checks and Motrin giving, followed by cough syrup and Tamiflu. The Tamiflu I remember well because the pharmacy gave us liquid for Matthew and it is disgusting. I mean in the worst possible way-BAD! Trying to get that down him twice a day without it making him sick was a feat in itself. Note to self – if the pharmacy doesn’t have pills in his dosage, drive to another pharmacy. Seriously.

Matthew still had a fever on Thursday, so he didn’t go to school on Friday. The big dilemma was going to be his basketball game on Saturday, but he really wanted to go. I told him that if he started coughing too much the coach may have him sit on the bench and he was ok with that. I think he really wanted to be there with his friends, and boy am I glad I took him. It was game 6 of 10 for these first graders, and God love ’em, they hadn’t had a win yet. Until Saturday!! That’s right people, they won! Finally they played against a team that was on their level. I swear the other teams have looked like they’ve been playing for years.

On the way out of the gym Matthew was coughing a lot. When I mentioned we might need to use the yucky cough medicine when we got home, he told Grammie and I that he had thrown up twice in his mouth on the court. Umm..gross!! And then he threw up in the parking lot. So probably not the best parenting decision, but when I asked him if it was worth it to be there and play in the winning game he said YES! Oh, the score was 14 – 12 and they play 6 quarters, 6 minutes in length. It was exciting people, I promise you that.

The game just wore me out so after running into the grocery store for a few things we headed over to the McDonalds drive thru. (Another great parenting moment) That was pretty much the most we had done all week, so I took a nap. I had bought some frozen pizza for dinner, but they all fended for themselves (oh my goodness, did that really happen??) and it was a quiet evening.

Brian was still sick yesterday so the kids and I went to church. It was an awesome day because in the two services, 15 people were baptized! FIFTEEN! I love how our church does baptisms. We’re all standing and singing, and the side screens light up with these amazing testimonies. Stories of sin and grace. Love, loss, mercy and forgiveness. Then they enter the baptismal and are baptized and we all cheer and party like its 1999. Just like the angels are in Heaven rejoicing, so do we!

All this leads me to today. I awoke with a plan to have a nice breakfast of oatmeal with berries and a banana,drive all children to their designated schools,pack a healthy lunch, and go to work. Simple plan that was going swimmingly until I reached the stop light right before the shop. My phone rang, and it was the middle school. Immediately I panic, but then I tell myself he probably just forgot something at home. I answer and the school nurse tells me that Zach is in the office throwing up. Really?!

By this time I’m already in the parking lot at work, so I go in and inform one of the guys what is going on and turn around and leave. I don’t know what we’re dealing with yet, because he’s been asleep since we came home. I do know that he was sitting in class and almost passed out. He developed tunnel vision, started shaking and got hot. While I was rehashing last weeks illnesses with the school nurse, she informed me that it has been a VERY busy few weeks for her.

So my boss isn’t happy with me for missing last week and now today, so I may get fired. And my boss is my husband! It’s not like I want my kids to be sick for crying out loud.

Did you have an eventful week?

Thirty Eight

Today I turned 38. I have the gray hairs to prove it. The first time I wrote 38 beside my name was this morning when I took Matthew to the doctor. He was a little whiny on Saturday, so I thought he was coming down with something, but then Sunday he seemed better. Yesterday I asked them to clean their rooms and he started complaining of a sore throat. Now being the great mom I am, I sprayed some Cepacol on his throat and sent him on his cleaning way. He didn’t complain anymore until we went out to dinner to celebrate my birthday. Basketball practice  tonight would have made it a little late to go out, so we rolled with it. Only when we got sat down at the restaraunt, Matthew looked really pale. Then he developed dark circles under his eyes, and before the salads came out his head was on the table! He got so sick, so quick! We stopped at CVS on the way home and stocked up on Motrin and cough syrup. His temp was 101 when we got home, and he went straight to bed. Without being asked. My baby is sick!

The Delsym didn’t work on his cough, so within a few hours he was up and in bed with me. We have a king size bed, so there’s a whole lotta room on the other side, but he snuggled up right next to me. Even his feet were hot! Our night was spent tossing and turning, and when he started moaning in his sleep I’d wake him up and take his temp, re dose him with Motrin and change the cool cloth on his head.

As I went to get his clothes this morning he said “Mom, can I tell you something?”. I leaned down on the bed next to him and he said “Happy Birthday”. Oh melt my heart you sweet boy! I gave him a hug and kissed his head, to which he said “are you sure you wanna do that?”. Oh how he brings me joy.

The strep test was negative but the flu test was strongly positive. Since we hadn’t had the fever for over 24 hours she prescribed Tamiflu, and even gave me prescriptions for the other kids. God bless her!! By the time we left the doctor and picked up the prescriptions, with some gatorade and popsicles, my boy was pooped! He came home and crashed out. We can’t seem to keep the fever under control, it’s been as high as 103 and I don’t like that.

Someone said they were sorry I had to spend my birthday like this. But ya know what? I’m a mom, and this is what a mom does. I hold heads when they are throwing up, and then I wipe mouths. I give hugs and kisses when they don’t feel well. I snuggle and rub backs and feed popsicles. I hate that my baby boy is so sick, but today is just another day. I happened to turn 38 today because 38 years ago my mom endured a difficult and painful labor with me, and God blessed me with another day. Another day that I can use to take care of my sick kiddo. And I am grateful to Him for that.

Be Still-Part 2

Last month I hinted around at something that I wanted and it didn’t happen. The opportunity presented itself again, and I didn’t know what to do. I wrestled with God, and I had questions. Was I doing the right thing, or using my free will to do the wrong thing? I finally decided that God would close the door again if it wasn’t supposed to be. The IT, was a job at a school. There were lots of pros and cons on the list, and I was just uncertain. When it didn’t happen the first time around, I will be totally honest, my heart was broken. I was upset and confused, but I came to the place that I understood, it wasn’t meant to be. God closed that door for a reason, and I might not ever know the reason, but I will go on. So, when the postings came up again, there was inner turmoil. Turmoil because of what happened the last time, and a few other reasons too. But, like I said previously, I prayed about it and went out on a limb.

I had inner turmoil, and that’s when I knew I needed to be still. I wanted to interfere, but I didn’t. That was hard for me, an admitted control freak, but I stayed strong.

Our schools are way, WAY over budget. They proposed a referendum, a property tax increase for 7 years to help ease the budgetary problems. Most people in our community are feeling the down turn of the economy, reigning in spending, and leary of increased taxes. The referendum did not pass, therefore, the teaching assistant position that I interviewed for back in August and didn’t get, will be cut. The person who did get the job, a teacher who didn’t get a teaching position, but a teachers assistant, will be losing her job. It’s hitting home. God closed the door, and now He’s revealing why. He always knows.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I’m glad that I was able to listen and be still. I didn’t take control and mess things up. It would have been a hassle, an inconvenience that we just don’t need right now. So, it was hard, but He saved me from the really hard. Thank you Jesus for loving me and my flaws. You forgive me when I’m controlling and mess things up. Please continue to grow and change me.

Confession

I’ve become addicted to Facebook, and that’s where I’ve been spending my time.  My blog has suffered long enough. 

Does this count as a post?

I must confess…

 I had a birthday this month, and I am now officially old.  I feel it, and I have the grey hair to prove it.  36 is the big one for me!  ( I really don’t think I should have grey hair, but I do!) 

The day went well for me though.  Matthew made it seem like a national holiday.  I am just thankful that God has blessed me with another birthday!

A single tear

Zach sat alone in the chair Sunday morning with a single tear rolling down his cheek.  He wanted daddy to go to church with us.  I tried to explain to him that we can’t pressure him, and to just have faith.  So we went without him, and had an amazing time.  Zach decided that he wants to be baptized, sometime before he turns 11, which is in July.  This is such a blessing to me, something that I’ve been praying for! 

This is a new church that we started attending last month.  We really liked it, except for one thing.  They only serve communion once a month, and I’m used to taking it weekly.  Brooke actually came up with the idea that we could take our own communion at home together, on the weeks that church doesn’t serve it.  The congregation is younger, the music is more contemporary, and the praise band is rocking!  The pastor is so down to earth, and his knowledge of the Bible and scripture is really impressive.  His sermons always seem to hit right on target.  Brian attended once, but we know he’ll return again. 

Anyway, the church is having a marriage conference that I signed up for, and I also joined a Life Group.  I decided that I can no longer put my spiritual growth on the backburner while I wait for Brian.  I need to grow!

Brooke and I also signed up for an hour of prayer, at an unconventional time, 3 am Sunday morning.  We’ll actually be coming home from something BIG.  I am so excited for this hour!

Just Wait

A patient person I am not, but God is telling me to wait. 

“In waiting, we will live an overcoming life as we learn to walk in God’s joy, peace, and contentment.  When we wait, He will give us His secrets to kingdom living.  By waiting for God’s wisdom and direction, we will accomplish the most for Him. ”

“He is looking for those who can wait and let the flesh die so that the spirit can truly live for His purposes.”  From Intercessors Arise, by Debbie Przybylski.

So I wait….

Social Media

Here’s a great thing about social media.  I have to say this because sometimes it’s a huge waste of time!  Last night on Twitter one of my “friends” that I’ve never met or actually talked to, cried out for prayer.  She was having a rough night and asked for prayer.  I sent her a direct message asking for specifics, and set out to pray.  I sent up a quick prayer for her to feel peace and love, and for her to be able to see the many blessings that she has.  I got back on and told her what I’d done, and that I was signing off to pray more specifically.  Her next post was about her 7 year old coming into the room and telling her she looked like she needed a hug, and then gave her one.  She said she has awesome kids. 

Today she is doing much better and sent me a thank you.  A bond was formed, and I may never meet her this side of Heaven, but in Heaven I’m sure we’ll meet!

So bad at this…

The titles always get me down!  Ok, I really do have lots to say, so I’m just gonna jump in.  Saturday Brooke danced at a womens Christmas brunch for a church that is a few miles from here.  The women were all so nice that we decided to try the church out on Sunday.  We’ve been kind of thinking about finding a smaller church with a great kids ministry, and this seemed to drop in our laps.  More on that later…

After Brooke danced, she and I went Christmas shopping.  It was one of those awesome mom and daughter days.  We had Starbuck’s and then ate at Chili’s for lunch.  It was a great time, and we really did get lots accomplished. 

Sunday rolled around and Brian and Zach got up before dawn to go hunting, so Matthew, Brooke and I went to the new church.  We really, really liked everything about it except the fact that communion was not served.  At all.  Now, every church I’ve ever attended has served communion every Sunday, and it’s biblical.  I have heard of certain churches that serve it on one Sunday a month, and special occasions, but I’ve never attended one of those.  I was really bummed out about it, thinking that was a deal breaker for me, but wishing it wasn’t.  I called the church yesterday and asked about it, and the secretary told me they always serve it on the 4th Sunday of the month.  She said she didn’t know why, it’s just how it’s always been done.  She offered to have the pastor call me, so I’m waiting on that.  Someone told me maybe it’s a money thing, and I’d be glad to buy the stuff to do it weekly.  I personally need that. 

Monday rolled around and I had to take Brooke to an orthopedic surgeon.  The same one that did my last knee surgery.  She’s been having some knee pain, and with my history of knee surgeries, and my mom’s and grandma’s, I wanted to get on it quickly.  I had really hoped that with all her dancing that she would have developed strong quad muscles, but I guess not.  He diagnosed her with Osgood Schlatters disease, where the tendon is pulling on the growth plate because she is so active.  Also she has tendonitis, patello-femoral syndrome, and patello femoral dysfunction.  Which means that she has shallow knee caps like me, and her bones are not made correctly to hold the knee cap in place.  He prescribed no jumping, (great for dance 4 x/week and cheerleading!), and physical therapy to strengthen the muscles more to hold the knee cap in place, and a couple of braces. 

Last night was her first night of therapy, and it went well.  Her knee was swollen so they used the doppler with an anti-inflammatory cream to help reduce the swelling, then she rode a bike for a while.  After the bike, he took her back to the table and showed her the exercises he wanted her to work on at home.  The memories of my surgeries and therapy came back to me at that point, and I felt so guilty that I was responsible for my precious daughter being in the same position.  I started crying and had to walk away.  Once I regained composure, I was able to go back and joke around with her while she was hooked up to the TENS unit.  I now know how my mom felt, because I was standing in her shoes.  I know it wasn’t her fault, and it’s not mine either.  It’s just something we have to deal with.  Luckily, we’re learning what to do to prevent future issues, and in a christian company!  They had the Jesus fish on the door, a cross on the desk, and were playing the christian radio station too. 

Oh, and Moday afternoon I had to go back to the oral surgeon to have the packing removed from the left side.  It was really stuck.  I had feared that, because it has been an issue with me, so I had irrigated before I went.  The first girl couldn’t get it out, so she went and got someone else.  She couldn’t get it either, so she irrigated it and started pulling again.  Finally she said maybe they could try suction, so the first girl goes to get it.  While she’s gone, the second girl finally gets it out.  Man, does that ever hurt!  They wanted to repack, and I kindly said NO!  I would much rather suffer with the dry socket pain now, than have it packed and anticipate having the packing removed.